RECUPERATING

June 27, 2011-Monday

We continued driving home, toward Castaway.

Outside it was akin to a very dim twilight on Lake Road. A couple of moose were seen out grazing.

Talk was between two couples, Onie and Tom and Becky and Kurt. Jan dozed while Burt looked ahead or occasionally nodded.

The GMC diesel pickup continued eating the miles until at last a weary but happy group arrived home.

In the coach Onie and Tom sat for a few moments before heating a little pheasant stew and downing it with big glasses of water.

One thirty found a very tired Onie tumbling into bed. A few minutes later, at two, Tom joined her.

They were awakened by a knock on the door at nine o’clock. It was Inger asking if Onie was going to the gym. Tom replied she probably was but it would be later in the day. When she was gone he went back to bed.

A little while later Onie got up to have her first cup of coffee for the day and continue work on week three.

An announcement that Kurt was coming to the front door got Tom out of bed at ten thirty.

Kurt came in and brought our share of the halibut catch, from yesterday. He and Becky had skinned, cut and vacuum packed it. Tom took the tray holding the fish and put the fish in the freezer before he, Kurt and Onie sat down to visit over coffee and tea.

Plans for the rest of the day were discussed and the bottom line was there were no plans for big activities. Everyone involved in yesterday’s trip was still very tired and needing time to recoup.

When Kurt left Onie cooked breakfast, halibut, an egg, toast and fresh fruit. Of course there was more coffee and tea along with the obligatory crosswords.

Shortly after twelve the table was abandoned and the writer started this story. Onie began sorting wash.

Outside it was mostly cloudy and warming up. Afternoon rain was in the forecast and time will tell if the forecast was accurate.

The next couple of hours were spent reviewing pictures from weeks three and four as the writer and editor decided what to keep, what to delete and what to publish.

Outside the clouds darkened and the temp began dropping.

The writer went back to his laptop and finished week five. At last he was caught up and could turn his attention to completing the waxing of the coach and catching some reds. In addition there was still work to do to make the expanded site more suitable to his and the navigator’s wants and needs, but then work for the weary was never done and after yesterday he was still weary.

The coach was kind of a mess from last night when the weary seafarers came in, dropped their gear and clothes in the living room, ate and headed to bed. Today they spent time gathering it up, sorting the clean from the dirty, getting the accumulated dirty clothes from the closet and stripping their bed. Tomorrow would be a big wash day.

Bodies, somewhat rested, were marched to the showers to be scrubbed and buffed until they regained their pre fishing shine.

The wet towels were added to tomorrows wash.

Finances were checked on line and plans made for the morrow as well as discussing supper plans.

Jay and Kay came by to visit and have a glass of wine. They looked through our movies and borrowed a few. Kay and Onie decided to drive separate cars in the morning to go to their Zumba class. Onie is staying in Soldotna after the class to shop and wash clothes.

When the company had gone Onie and Tom had some avocado, sliced tomato and a piece of sausage on bread before turning on GSN.

Sometime later, they were both dozing; they clicked the remote to turn off the TV.

Then they slept.

ZUMBA

June 28, 2011-Tuesday

The alarm began ringing at seven. It was time for Onie to rise and shine. She was going to Zumba and after that she had a day of shopping and clothes washing ahead of her.

After coffee she dressed, had some breakfast and began getting things together she would need during the day.

At eight thirty Kay came by in her truck and the duo was off to Zumba.

The writer thinks Zumba is some kind of dance exercise a poverty stricken Brazilian kid was able to wrangle into a fortune. He didn’t have a college education and had no desire to live on a government dole. He did have a love of dance and a desire to get out of poverty. He showed that given the opportunity to think for themselves, while living free of government inspired indolence, people can still become productive and rise above humble beginnings.

The writer, without Onie in bed, tossed and turned in a fitful sleep before rising before she left.

He checked his email, the market and the news before finishing yesterday’s story and starting this one.

Then it was tea and breakfast time.

Outside a sky full of dappled gray clouds hid the sun and kept the temperature in the low fifties. The river sped by outside our window.

The bed was made. A shower was taken. The kitchen was cleaned and the trash was taken out.

While outside Inger stopped the writer to ask if he could show her how to empty the holding tanks on Frank’s fifth wheel. He said he knew little about fifth wheels and trailers but would get some help, from Jay, and we would show her how it is done, tomorrow. She had bought a hitch with a two inch ball so the writer told her to exchange it for a one and seven eighths ball as that is the size that is on the honey wagon.

Chelsea was outside with one of his dogs and he came over to visit. An hour later he and Dixie left for Anchorage where they have dental appointments tomorrow.

The awning de-flappers and tire covers were taken out of the basement and put on and some items Onie had bought at yard sales were hung up.

Then tools and the ladder were put in place to begin waxing the driver’s side.

The writer had no sooner climbed the ladder to begin work than he heard a raucous voice yelling at him, asking questions about the river and camp. A turn of the head disclosed a woman sitting in a car yelling the stream of questions. Who this person was the writer had no idea but for someone to be so rude it was obvious they had to be from New York or California. When the writer got off the ladder and went to the car his suspicion was confirmed. She was from California.

The same number of steps the writer had to take, less the number to climb down from the ladder, would have brought her to the ladder and the writer where she could have spoken in a more civilized and genteel manner but that wasn’t her style. Demanding and inconsiderate was her stock in trade. At the car the writer answered her questions, biting his tongue so he wouldn’t remonstrate with her about her lack of civility and manners. In a few minutes she apparently had the information she wanted. She drove off and the writer returned to the job at hand.

Waxing did not bring out the desired shine so the writer began compounding instead.

Onie got home and the writer made another trip down the ladder to help her get the clean clothes into the coach along with a few things, including a watermelon, from Fred Meyers.

Onie had risen early, exercised hard and shopped. Now she was ready for a nap.

The writer went back outside and continued work on the coach. From time to time a camp habitant came by to watch the work and comment on the progress. Later Onie rose and came outside to help the writer finish his work on the living room slide.

As we were getting ready to sit down to supper, avocado, salad and halibut Hawaiian, Kurt came by to invite us up to his house for halibut chowder and a campfire. We explained we were just sitting down to supper but would come up after supper for a bite of halibut chowder.

When supper was over we drove up to Kurt and Becky’s for the chowder. She also served fresh blueberries and chocolate covered strawberries. We sat on the newly completed deck and watched the sun sink behind the trees then went down to the fire ring where Kurt had a fire going.

We visited around the campfire until the hour grew late, 10:45, when we gathered ourselves and went back to the coach where we watched GSN before going to sleep.

PERSONAL TRAINER

June 29, 2011-Wednesday

The alarm went off at seven thirty. The snooze was touched a couple of times before we rose to face the day.

The coach was cold so the heater was turned on high. Outside it was colder yet with clouds like those of yesterday morning, dappled gray. The weather forecast called for a high of 59 and rain.

Coffee and Chai tea helped us get our eyes focusing then we put up the clean clothes from yesterday’s wash before we started breakfast.

After breakfast Onie got ready to go to the gym with Kay and Inger. Onie and Kay had an appointment with a personal trainer who would set them up on personalized training paths they would follow all summer.

The trio left at nine thirty.

The writer made his tea and sat down with his laptop to continue story telling.

The story telling can only proceed as long as there is a story to tell so the writer abandoned the laptop and went outside where he started the process of filling the fresh water tank and emptying the holding tanks. Bill came by to help and he was quickly followed by Jay. As we began unloading the Marlin tanks Bill had to leave to meet a repairman.

Jay and I completed the job at the Marlin then went to his rig and performed the same duties before going to Frank and Inger’s rig. At their rig we blew two fuses and spent almost two hours. In the spirit of walking on the high side the details of what kept us so long will not be detailed. Suffice it to say we got more than we bargained for when we agreed to show her how to empty the tanks.

After scrubbing up very good the writer began working on a few things at his and Onie’s site.

The fire pit had been moved when the site was expanded and in the moving the rebar that holds it in place was bent. A search was made to find a cheater bar/pipe that could be used to straighten the rebar. One was found and used to get the job done. There was still a problem with the fire pit. It had a grate welded into it that, at one time, was used for cooking over the open fire. That is no longer done in this camp so the grate needed to come out. A SawzAll with a metal cutting blade was tried but the welds were too hard for the blade so the writer resorted to brute force. Using a splitting wedge he pounded away at the welds until one by one they gave way and the grate was loose and then removed. Using the same splitting wedge the grate and its legs were seated firmly on the ground.

The attention was turned to our picnic table, new a few years ago, that had been finished with Spar varnish. The varnish had succumbed to the intervening cold and heat and now lay in curled pieces on the table top and seats. A belt sander was applied to the offending surfaces and the varnish was gone in a cloud of dust. Onie wiped the dust from the surfaces then went in to start supper. She had obtained some stain from LaVon and the writer applied a generous amount to the newly sanded areas. After a night and day of drying the table would be ready for use. As the stain was applied Dennis, who had arrived in camp a little earlier, came over to visit.

Once the staining was completed the stainer and Dennis sat and visited for a while. Bill came over and joined in then Kurt and Burt stopped by for little bit.

With work for the day at an end and company retiring to their own places the writer went into the coach where he took a quick shower to remove a generous layer of dust and dirt.

Onie was watching TV.

After the shower the writer ate a great salad the navigator had prepared earlier then he had the main course as he worked on a crossword.

By the time his meal was over the navigator was fast asleep. He moved to his laptop and checked email before turning to the stories.

Around midnight he found his bed and sleep.

PIZZA FOR EIGHT

June 30, 2011-Thursday

We were both up at 7:30 and had coffee and Chai tea.

Onie had a peanut butter and banana sandwich before heading off to Zumba leaving me to read the paper.

With the news (?) digested the writer turned to steel cut oats to digest and crosswords to solve.

A few notes were made, a shower taken and clothes donned before heading up to Kurt’s house to help put the motor on the boat.

With the motor remounted on the boat and the battery charging we, Kurt, Burt and the writer, headed off to fill the gas tank and extra gas cans then it was on to Soldotna where we got some terminal tackle for Kurt’s salmon rigs.

Becky had found a headboard for one of the bed’s while shopping yard sales. We went to pick it up but gave up and headed to Kenai when we couldn’t easily locate the address.

In Kenai we went to Lowes to look for some indoor/outdoor carpet as well as exchange some things Kurt had bought earlier. Lowes carried the carpet the writer wanted but only had a few feet. He was after thirty five feet so the trio headed to Home Depot. Home Depot had the carpet so it was purchased and loaded into the pickup.

Then we headed back to Soldotna to try again to find the house where Becky had bought the head board. As luck would have it the lady with the head board called us while we were enroute and gave us driving directions to her house.

Back at the house, at five, we unloaded the headboard and gas cans before heading down to the coach where we moved things off the site, unloaded and unrolled the carpet and then placed our things on the carpet. It looked swell! Swell is a word from back in the day when we still used “gee” and “gosh” along with “dagnabit”. The latter word is pronounced “dag nab it”

Rocks covered and hopefully no more small rocks on the motor home carpet. Expanded site is great!

Onie liked the new arrangement but didn’t stay to enjoy it as she hurried off to do a load of wash.

The writer sat at his laptop and wrote and made notes.

With notes made and the wash finished Onie and Pawpaw headed to St Elias at 6:45 where they met Kurt, Becky, Jan, Burt, Mark and Casey. It was live music night and the place was packed but with two tables pulled together we were able to sit the group together.

Kurt and Becky ordered some good appetizers and multiple pizzas which were enjoyed by everyone.

Full and relaxed Onie and Pawpaw got home at 10 where Pawpaw made a few notes and the duo worked a little on a crossword before going to bed at 11.

Outside it was overcast, cold and looking like rain was imminent.

WE GOT GAS

July 1, 2011-Friday

If it is Friday at Castaway Riverside RV Park it must be yard sale day.

Onie was up at 7:00 to start getting ready. She was having coffee and working on a crossword when the writer joined her at 7:30 for Chai tea and to contribute to the work on the crossword.

Onie was off at 9 with Becky, Jan, Kay and Inger to yard sales. She had eaten her breakfast of egg, sausage and toast before she left. The writer added hot tea and had the same.

While the writer was eating and mentally wrestling with a crossword, Kurt called and said he was heading into town and wanted to know if the writer would like to ride along. Never missing an opportunity to have a chauffeur he said yes and he would be ready in half an hour. He finished his breakfast, had his shower, dressed and met Kurt at the front door of the coach at 10.

Propane tanks and the gas they hold are used with our gas grills and the cookers we use when canning. Kurt had already loaded his into the pickup. The writer loaded his and then the pair headed off to get them filled.

When that detail had been attended to, they headed into Soldotna for lunch at the China Buffet then headed over to the Sportsman’s Warehouse, a new store in town that specializes in everything outdoors, where they found high prices and nothing they couldn’t live without.

Their next stop was Wells Fargo Bank which turned out to be a mistake. It was a triple witching day, the first of the month, Friday and the beginning of a long weekend. After more time was spent, than either had anticipated, their business was done and they headed on to Trustworthy Hardware.

Inside the writer had some reels re-spooled, got a new knife sharpener and picked up 6 cases of pints jars for canning.

Back home we dropped off the writer’s propane bottles and picked up Burt who was out for his daily walk then it was up to Kurt’s to tie leaders and listen to Big Band music.

Jay came up in anticipation of the girls getting home from the yard sales.

They arrived home at 7 and soon brought snacks out on the deck where the guys sat, visiting.

Supper was at 8:30 when all the guys and girls went inside to enjoy a good repast and more good visitation.

With the table cleaned off and the day’s yard sale goodies apportioned out to their new owners the residents of the RV Park, Jay, Kay, Onie and Pawpaw headed home at 10.

Back in the coach Pawpaw made notes while Onie got ready for bed. When the bathroom was open Pawpaw took his turn. To the young readers it should be mentioned that sharing, and sharing a bathroom, is something from the old days and something that most people over forty or fifty know how to do. To do this one must be patient, tolerant and considerate and understanding and those virtues may be missing in many under such an ancient age

When both had finished their nightly bedtime preparations they snuggled under the covers at eleven.

Outside it was cold and cloudy.

FIESTA

July 2, 2011-Saturday

The writer was finished sleeping by 6:30 or so he thought.

He got up. Inside the coach it was cold and damp.

Outside it was cold and cloudy. A few minutes after he got up rain started to fall. He went back to bed.

Sometime later Onie got up.

When the writer rose again at 9:30 Onie’d had coffee and was working on crosswords. The writer got a cup of Chai tea and joined in on the crossword.

When some of the puzzle had been solved the couple stopped. The writer began making buckwheat cakes while the editor cooked bacon. When both were ready the couple sat down with coffee and Chai tea and more crosswords.

With crosswords solved showers were taken and the duo dressed to go to town at 12:30.

The rain had stopped and it was a brisk 55.

In town at Freddies hot beverages from Starbucks tasted real good. They shopped for veggies and stuff for the casserole Onie was going to make for the gathering later that night.

Then it was on to Trustworthy where they got 6 more cases of jars and a multipurpose table. It will serve as an end table on our patio and as a processing table on the grate, when the reds are running.

Belize chairs and new table with table ornament being one from yard sales 3 years ago. Pretty cozy!

We got home at 3 and Onie started cooking. The writer took some Onions to Sandy, put stuff in the shed, had a snack, made some notes and wrote a little.

The rain returned at 4. Inside the shed the writer rigged his rod and reel before going back into coach to warm up. He was out to fish at 5. Nothing was doing so he was back in the coach at 5:30.

Onie was ready to go to the Fiesta. We carried the food over, visited and ate. Donnie had the fire started at 7:45. It was already cold so the writer headed home at 8. Onie soon joined him.

They found a movie on TV. It was forgettable.

They slept at 11.

FOUR AND FIVE

July 3, 2011-Sunday

The writer rose at seven.

Outside the sun shone brightly with its rays sparkling on the rippling waters of the Kenai River that had been showing a small rise for the last few days.

The cool air, 44 degrees, would soon start to warm and as it warmed it would encourage more blooms on Onie’s flowers.

Inside the coach the electric heater ran, the writer started this story and Onie slept on.

By eight thirty Onie was stirring, steel cut oats that is, as she sipped on a hot cup of coffee.

After breakfast the well fed duo walked to the lodge to shower.

Back at the coach they dressed for church.

At church the music was all patriotic and Pastor Tim preached on freedoms, spiritual and physical.

Back home the couple changed clothes, ate some lunch, worked on the Sunday crossword and ate watermelon.

Onie made some banana nut bread.

After a while the phone rang. It was Becky saying they were coming down for a visit. When they didn’t arrive very soon Onie went for a walk with Inger and Kay.

While she was gone Becky and Jan came down. We sat outside and visited.

When Onie, Kay and Inger got back Onie and Inger came and joined in the visit. Around six Burt came down and joined the group.

The sun that had warmed the group all afternoon began cooling and that was enough to break the group up. The writer drove the bunch from the hill back home and returned to visit a little with Onie before getting his rod and reel and heading to the river.

Onie was working on weeks four and five.

A hundred casts later the writer determined that the fish that were in the river were too scarce to catch. He quit casting and visited a bit with Chelsea before rejoining Onie in the coach.

She was still working on weeks four and five.

The writer settled down with his laptop to complete week six.

Onie fixed supper, egg sandwich and venison sausage and then put a movie in the DVD player, Dirty Harry.

After the movie it was sleepy time.